#“Raping You Mind”

[avicecaro]

hate to say it, but part of ending the stigma around sexual assault means not assuming every woman blames herself. yes, female socialization encourages it, but that doesn’t make it a given, and the goal of all of these campaigns is to eventually diminish the proportion of women who do blame themselves. it is entirely possible, and increasingly common, for women to experience sexual assault and not feel shame or guilt, which we should be happy about. but instead, there are only so many times you can hear “you know it’s not your fault, right?” before it sounds like “it was your fault”. and there’s only so many times you can hear “don’t blame yourself” before it sounds like “you should blame yourself”. because it feels good to say, doesn’t it? sure, you don’t believe she’s guilty, but you do believe she should feel guilty, so that you can disabuse her of the notion. just something to consider.

[borgialucrezia]

[bigskydreaming]

Imagine if you were a gay or bi man who tried a certain firefighter show because of all the attention it was getting for one of its mains having a later in life bi awakening.....and between seasons you ventured into its fandom in search of material to tide you over til the next one. And you're greeted by a deluge of posts and fics that are just cheerfully homophobic towards one half of the newly out bi character's canon relationship on the basis of 'well he's not the RIGHT gay guy' and pushing the idea that actually its fine to cheat on him because Reasons and he's sexually predacious based on......behind the scenes implications people have divined like they're reading fucking tea leaves.

But don't get it twisted....this fandom, like all fandoms, really cares about representation!

Sorry not sorry, but we really need to kill this idea that fandoms are welcoming and inviting and inherently progressive when they're frequently insular and reductive as fuck. Every single fandom I've been in has had major trends of people doubling down on their own headcanons and fanon interpretations of the characters and willfully enacting trends aimed at running off people who like the 'wrong' characters (usually characters marginalized along one or multiple axes), like the characters in the 'wrong ways' or other bullshit.

Scott is a Bad Friend fics overtaking Teen Wolf fandom was not incidental, it was a FEATURE of the fandom, because the vast majority of that fandom did not want to share its space with anyone who had the nerve to like its main character. Survivors complaining about or criticizing the prevalance of rape fics in a certain fandom has in my experience always led to a reactionary UPTICK in those fics, with gems like 'this character can, will, must be raped' in the tags making it crystal clear that some of these fics exist because how fucking DARE anyone try and push forth a narrative not agreed upon by Fandom Main.

I could cite examples for so many other fandoms, with the commonalities always being that vast majorities in these fandoms are explicitly reacting defensively to being asked to be more mindful of fandom trends revolving around or exacerbating racism, homophobia, transphobia, rape or abuse apologia, ableism, etc....

With the most prolific fucking rallying cry across countless fandoms being "No the fuck we will NOT be doing that," because lolololol.....

Fandom is an inherently progressive space, didn't you hear?

[curly-my-beloved]

honestly heartbreaking how many people feel the need to either ask me if this is a jimmy safe space or say that they're so happy that i'm not yelling at them for liking jimmy like... gods, the way fandoms are now is so fucking dreadful.

this is, and will remain, a jimmy safe space.

[pass1onepr1ncess]

The people in the mouthwashing fandom who genuinely believe that Jimmy is actually attracted to cartoon horses missed the entire point of that conversation and comment. It's not that he has a horse mascot fetish or what have you, it's that he only made that comment because he doesn't take Anya or her job- including the psych eval- seriously.

He makes that comment to be condescending and dismissive of her work, basically saying "What you do is bullshit so I'm gonna give you bullshit answers because none of this matters to me. You don't matter to me."

And it's not even that he doesn't take the psych eval itself seriously because we see that when Anya gets Curly to do the eval, Jimmy sits down with him and gets it done presumably without giving those condescending "this doesn't matter" answers or comments. It's Anya specifically he doesn't take seriously or care about, as we see throughout the whole game.

That whole "being sexually attracted to cartoon horses" thing wasn't him confessing some hidden truth about himself in a psychological evaluation, it was him effectively telling Anya to fuck off and mocking her for a job he doesn't see her as qualified for. It was him reminding her that he doesn't give a fuck about her or her job.

I know it's such a non-issue and maybe I'm just looking into it too much but to see people be like "Haha Jimmy has a horse fetish" is so, idk. It just feels like those people are missing the point that even in nonsense throwaway comments like that, Jimmy is a POS in every aspect of life on the Tulpar and how he just has to feel superior and above Anya in every way in addition to the pre-existing continuous abuse and assault on her.

Not to mention the whole theory/implication that Polle and/or Jimmy's hallucinations of Polle are a stand-in for Anya, on how he doesn't even see her as a real human person and instead subconsciously equates her to the cartoon horse mascot of the bankrupt company they work for.

[trans-leek-cookie]

listen I'm not gonna be a Curly apologist he did Fucked Up as captain but I genuinely recommend ppl watch a playthru that goes thru the game in chronological order. It kinda helps clear up the events and gaps between them, bc even tho u See the times, you still experience it out of order.

The stuff Anya says definitely sets off alarm bells but it doesn't seem like he Fully Understands what she means, and I'm going to be 100% honest I think she was trying to repress it herself. This isn't to say that she is AT ALL "at fault" for what happened after and she should've gotten help even if she wasn't ready to fully discuss the issue but I genuinely think she herself was still coming to terms with things, so she didn't necessarily process the full impact before talking to Curly, and a lot of what happens occurs after they're laid off- like this delves into personal interpretation but I genuinely think Anya only registered Jimmy as a serious danger after his outburst towards Curly. Ofc my interpretation is limited bc of the limited pov in game and not having gone through what she has, but it personally reads more akin to coercion over time than a singular Obviously Violent incident (like. Not to say that Sexual Assault isnt violent in nature, just that coercion often specifically works to obfuscate the fact it is a form of violence.) The layoff is a Massive catalyst for her bc of Jimmy, in that she now has a very clear understanding of his capacity for aggression.

To extrapolate a little from the "Dead Pixel" conversation, she starts by saying she Likes The Screen (even though it's fake). While Curly has his quotes about the pixel "not ruining the illusion" which. Y'know is Symbolic Of His Flaws. She doesn't say the pixel ruins it, just that she can't get it out of her mind.

If we take the pixel to represent her Or jimmy, either way the way she talks about it kind of downplays things, like it's a Minor Thing that's Slightly Upsetting, but she's still okay with the big picture. Idk I could be 100% wrong but that is my take

Besides that, Anya tells curly she's pregnant 2 days before the crash, and it isn't until she outright states it that he starts Putting The Pieces Together. I want to note, he says "I'd do anything" and "this doesn't have to go on our performance evals" 1. Before he knows shes pregnant 2. Under the assumption she might attempt suicide, and I doubt he even thought about her using the gun on anyone else before she brings that up. He says literally before the line where she tells him she's pregnant that "being laid off isnt a reason to hurt [herself]". Like I've seen ppl talk about the performance evaluation thing like it's about her and jimmy, but I think he's referring to (his belief) that she might attempt suicide or similar which might genuinely be a consistent thing he's seen her struggle with, given she's able to go through with it. Also just to note: assuming their society is like ours (hellish) reassuring her he won't blab Abt her mental health is like. Genuine reassurance- lots of mentally ill ppl will Not Open Up bc it could have long term consequences (like. For example. On employment) ANYWAYS I hope it doesn't come off like "Curly never failed Anya" but rather "Curly approached this specific situation without the context of why Anya is panicking and (possibly validly) assuming she's dealing with a very different issue"

Also let me say again the time frame is 2 days. We don't Really see what happens, but we know Anya tells Jimmy without Curly knowing. I genuinely believe he maybe didn't do a Great Job in those two days (the fact he says Anya should've talked to Him before telling Jimmy is uhhh. Mm. 1. Your job to create an environment where she comes to you my man 2. Weird to tell her what she should do with HER OWN PERSONAL INFORMATION) but like.

I get a lot of ppl want immediate consequences but consider that they can't really get rid of Jimmy (co pilot. Which is. Y'know it's Own Problems) but also like. Curly knows Jimmy, and we know that Jimmy tends to lash out. Curly should probably Not Confront Jimmy Unless He Knows Exactly How To Keep Him From Hurting Anya. Like I'm not an expert but this is something genuinely important- when confronting an abuser you NEED to take into account the impact it can have on their victim, and sometimes for the victims safety you need to wait until you have a Solid Plan. It sucks but it's important.

And theres discussion to be had about Curly kinda going along with Jimmy saying "well what if we all died" and like. I do believe he Didn't Realize What Jimmy Said. Like he was just processing/trying to keep the situation under control (and failing because he underestimated how willing Jimmy was to hurt everyone including himself).

Like he's definitely an enabler but I would say his problems are mostly before he understands the gravity of the situation, in that he's friends with Jimmy and assumes the best of a man with abusive tendencies, and fails to create an environment that can keep Anya and the others safe. Like, he definitely doesn't handle in game events perfectly (psych evaluation for one- he does do it instead of Anya which is actually helpful, but he still treats it like. Weirdly.)

Idk I have a lot of thoughts about this game and I don't necessarily want to defend Curly but more like. Anya's situation is very delicate (and light on details) so sometimes the way ppl talk Abt it feels like they aren't actually focused on what she wants and what it means to prioritize her safety y'know?

Edit bc I just now figured out kinda how I want to word it: curly is an enabler and making things worse bc he doesn't put a stop to Jimmy's BS, but in the specific scenario we see in game I think he's trying to use his Skillset of like, people pleasing not for Jimmy's sake but for the crews (like "if I nod my head and say I sympathize he won't lash out and hurt them") which like. There are situations which that is unfortunately the safest option (on an individual level yes, but sometimes it's also necessary to prevent abusers lashing out in response toward ppl who are more vulnerable) but it was the Wrong Choice.

It's like. I think Curly was trying and had good intentions, and understood that he needed to protect the crew, but he didn't have the toolset/experience to realize he can't Just go along with things and that he needs to be able to set hard limits, even for ppl he likes and trusts. Like he failed but the failure was "for want of a nail", where it began way before what we see (for want of an understanding of power dynamics I guess.) Again, don't think this makes curly more forgivable or whatever, I just think he's a good example of trying to make the right choices when you never realized you'd have to make these kinds of decisions and therefore are unprepared and/or unaware

Second edit: personally I don't think you can really incapacitate jimmy without there being serious risk (again he's the copilot) but curly should've given Anya the gun when she told him Abt the pregnancy

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

I feel like I'm missing the crux of the man vs. bear debate because it's so silly. of course I would pick the man, because neither my Sig nor jiu jitsu is going to take down a bear

[milowing]

"in the original myth medusa was a rape victim!" i'm literally banging my head against the wall

[gay-girl-thing]

Y'know beneath all the petplay and kink HDG is probably the best depiction of a utopia I have ever seen along with SCP 6001

People aren't stagnating because they don't have to do anything because they still want to do something and they can do anything they want including some freaks (complimentary) wanting their life snuffed out over and over by a goddamn plant mommy as should be their right

Crime doesn't happen because there isn't a reason to crime (except some misguided attempts at "freedom" from the hyper capitalist hellhole the earth government has become)

And good god half of it is just yelling at you that just because you're not worth anything under capitalism doesn't mean your life is not worth living

Living a life isn't and shouldn't be a privilege it should be a god forsaken right and some people just don't get that

[fallen--starlight]

Nah go f yourself. Those women waited years to start talking, they could have survived a few more months with their mouths shut.

In all honesty I still don't believe them. They had a relationship, didn't like the sex and weren't satisfied with NG giving them money. So they went and decided to spread shit about him.

wow! those sure are Words !!! lets go over your contributions to the class ^_^

i will have to deduct a few points for being rude. i do not fuck with that shit im afraid :3

A+ for effort but F for your chosen topic, as i do Not Recall the instructions for your composition being "victim blame rape victims" (ﾟДﾟ) going over your written response, i can Definitely feel the .. passion & emotion within it .. ⊙﹏⊙∥ but alas! i can also sense that there's no lived experience weighing in on your Thoughts & Opinions >_< your assignment didn't need to include personal experience but if you cannot even empathize then i have to deduct more points ;( please Do Better next time ^^

ruling: i double dare you to send this again off anon. please see me after class （〃｀ 3′〃）

[soft-crimson]

Yo rape is not a kink, it is a heinous crime and giving an outlet to your fucked up fantasy is harmful in the way it blurs the limits of consent and lessens the seriousness it must be treated with. You may not realize it but you're spreading the message that some people like to be raped and it is extremely easy for that message to be internalized by gross men who do not understand the meaning of consent

Bitch just go to therapy

[hauntedjohnny]

when will you guys accept that johnny is a bad man. you know its okay to like johnny and acknowledge that he does bad thing right? you dont have to jump through loops to convince yourself he doesnt do certain things to make yourself feel better about liking him.

[p2ii]

I feel like there's something to be said about the way fandom will treat characters who's trauma they can personally relate to Vs characters who they cant

[andreawritesit]

Jace and Baela's chemistry is being wasted...

[currymanganese]

As an addendum to my post here about why I love Sydcarmy / Strange Days so much, and my post on the possible Angela Bassett/Strange Days' influence on Ayo's New York Fashion Week look, I did a Strange Days edit set to Rina Sawayama's Comme Des Garçons:

P.S. I loved your Strange Days edit @quietparanoiac - you were my inspo. 🥰

[skrunksthatwunk]

aurghhh ok still rewatching '97 and the way guts and casca only have the room to breathe and really come to understand and care for each other in griffith's absence because he has such a strong hold over them both.... and the way their mutual dedication to him is what causes them to bicker for years (casca thinks he's not serving him well enough, guts thinks she doesn't get that he cares/how much he cares, casca's jealousy over griffith's feelings for guts, how he won his heart without even trying or being aware of it or doing anything with it) and is also a big part of what brings them together (earlier when guts deviates from the plan to save griffith and she commends him, in the cave casca opening up about griffith and her's past, showing that vulnerability, while it's mostly confrontational, leads to guts kinda getting her better, and his efforts to save and protect her (falling off the cliff with her, taking on the 100 men so she can escape, encouraging her to return to griffith so she can help him because it's what she feels she's meant to do (her dream, the direction in life guts shares and yet is questioning because of griffith's speech at the fountain, whether or not it's enough to serve him if it means he'll never be a true friend in griffith's eyes because he's not an equal), supporting the idea of her being with griffith/being his most important person like he won't because he doesn't view it as a competition like she has been since day one) leading to her realizing that he's kind of not that bad a guy and they have a lot more in common that she thought. and how the bonfire of dreams conversation is guts opening up to her in kind, the answer to her talking about how griffith saved her, how she feels. how neither of them ever call it love but it's something they know they both have for griffith. how it's something they're beginning to have for each other, different in ways they couldn't put a word to. because they're equals this time. the way griffith kind of becomes less and less important as they find other reasons to live and fight, as they become less singularly obsessed with him. how griffith is unable to stand it, guts' personhood, that agency and peer-to-peer equality he claimed to want (and perhaps truly did) that disappeared guts from his life, his plans, his side. how it barely even matters to griffith how casca changes because he never wanted her like she wanted him. god i can't fucking stand their shakespearean nonsense drama (<- hopelessly in love with their interpersonal dynamics)